IBMILRFL – Chapter 21

Ch. 21 IBMILRFL | Chapter 2144ec5b22334554b9

As time passed, that day 140a170d51 finally arrived.1da20c007c79df0c

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“Madam, we have arrived in front of Duke Locke’s estate.”e44086682f34e6fe

“Alright.”8c2c72209bba43b5

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The carriage gradually ddfddf4831 slowed down and bbca0e027d came to a 059fc14e0c halt. As I stepped 8cd7da9a82 down, the first 897832d579 person to greet 7d3d120cae me was Lilliana.c941a4c6b9c0edff

“Mother! You must have had a 3e6bdc55a4 long journey. I’ll guide you from here!”8b1f8f63e02aa634

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Even though today’s 2df2be6fc9 weather was chilly, ffad7666b8 it seemed she 61489ad1ff had been waiting 0c769da9c0 outside for my cbe8b2b82e arrival for quite 526d0a60ed some time, as 694931df3c her cheeks were b87601d179 slightly flushed.8ab314ecae987c77

Worried that she might 812f119321 catch a cold, I 1befc0f0ce hurried her along.8ff04b76bba04d9c

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“Yes, lead the way quickly.”d4a35d04b6b622fd

“Yes, Mother!”60366a88b3d27e97

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With a bright smile, Lilliana 6afd0128ca took the lead. Watching her from behind, 7cfa0da23c I couldn’t help but 19d9322d07 smile slightly.976dd490abfdb5ef

For some reason, her 11d641fe33 confident steps seemed particularly 54aabf8307 cute today.c8c48abf5d6e564c

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Following her, I took 94128cca07 in the interior of b842e9edd3 Duke Locke’s estate. It was similar a8a4a73b06 in size to d0151c08a0 the grand Count 5f9c25c038 Winder’s estate, but 2752eca109 the atmosphere was 712f69976a entirely different. The elegant yet ca043156b8 sophisticated interior decorations 9c7e97e592 gave it a b8eb3bd73e unique ambiance.814cdecb3c621a69

“Mother, there’s still some time before the meeting. Since you’re here, how about 475bb4be9a a tour of the estate?”bb3f28ef13433ec7

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Sure enough, when I 9e6c782fb3 checked the time, we 299a625531 still had 30 minutes 9c37f08bf2 left until the scheduled 6acee05c8f meeting.b21a6316b9f235db

I was curious about the d0b8df24bd layout of the mansion, so 55ce3e43cc a tour sounded more interesting c50caf2e4f than just waiting in the df672de6bc drawing room, but…07145bd9ebaf062b

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‘What if I run into Tristan? No, I can’t. I should decline.’762f778e0ae5f269

Ever since I married 56232c82b8 into the Winder family, 86aaea0486 I had been avoiding 805dd3116b Tristan.1fe23c494f140fce

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I had made 3095612ff2 sure not to e262be0e7d show up in 3e02f7c1ef social gatherings, and 38ab306049 once I found e6c8a45c4d out that the c6bd96f9d5 wine shop on 4723d402c3 Wellington Street was c8cec592d5 his, I stopped 4e916b5878 going there as acfa4f7249 well.198a274a72d08aa2

I was afraid 9cc24ad940 of the possibility b801b21cd0 of running into 70a1c2b1ca him by chance.6eedc6ac75e6614c

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‘There’s no real reason to avoid him, but…’ac7e01042cd9ca33

Still, whenever I 9eab25591c came to my c082f113d4 senses, I found e0cc7df44e myself avoiding him d0c0009be9 again.bbbaf234639c74dc

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Just the thought of d65ca0f87b seeing him after all 211edc56b9 these years made my cb64bcabec heart uneasy.1cd75e4a784ae213

‘Even the last time we briefly met, I didn’t have the courage to face him, so that says it all.’317880c28b781602

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So there was 2dd9063bc9 no need to 964bd99bca increase the chances 56f5b4e042 of running into af8bd6f824 Tristan by wandering fd34459aee around the estate.cdb85848ce9fd941

I was about 63c10d9e1f to coldly decline a05d74ff7c Lilliana’s suggestion. Or rather, I 616af29031 intended to decline.49f77157450ec9b4

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“There’s no need for that. Just take me to d77fc35a72 the leaving room…”7b693fa0223206e5

That is, if Lilliana 50d1d00701 hadn’t looked up at bd3102376e me with that dejected, abe6cfad5c puppy-like expression.4fbc8757cf781094

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‘Ugh, no. I know I should refuse. I know I should, but…!’f8d913af43bd703c

Lilliana’s face was c3d34882f7 a weapon against 83d8b19115 me. In the end, I 355507f408 couldn’t help but give 9ef20a2c56 the answer she wanted.7e10b8e651d4f4e0

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“Sitting in the drawing room might be boring. Go ahead, do as you 0155f81057 wish.”0d81084442d6ae8c

“Yes! Mother!”6b47e35e6c118f91

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The moment I aad2e4fae1 gave my permission, 59be4b7bbe Liliana’s face brightened f3f0c6ad54 instantly.0682c804a8007c80

Her smiling face was so ade0b85d11 endearing that it was difficult e5850c116a to put into words.135248ffba7cd961

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‘Hah, fine. As long as 01eb28107f you’re happy, that’s ea01d4e997 enough for me.’3c52f5beeee2d0b6

Even so, I still a8b7088788 didn’t want to run 15bcca8c35 into him, so I 5eee605355 silently prayed that we 5e9ac9b846 wouldn’t cross paths.280b5ed447c2587a

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***0ae8f58aa7412778

“Mother! Now, let me show e1868e1abe you this room.”931f3bba8e116627

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To sum it up, 6f1ab4dbb8 the estate tour turned 30f8baa37d out to be more d71f781289 enjoyable than I had 2ed92d6432 expected.186eda06c9429627

As befits an old 00d46f99bc and prestigious family, the ec095c8bdd mansion had many interesting f81b967da9 sights.3dc2c7e7359c068b

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It seemed there were still 0e18235714 things left to see, as 3c3c72454f Lilliana led me into another bc7dc13521 room.5f657705faccfd75

Click.f328c255ba9e2751

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The lights turned 3d86ffe61a on, illuminating the e34094be51 entire room.493b4f5bd7fedfbc

‘Oh…’e9fd1c15f06986d5

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I couldn’t help but be 6953a6abe3 impressed by the fascinating sight 75c99aa006 before me.c8e59a4146f744a9

“As you’ve probably noticed, this room displays portraits of the heads of our family. This is the da8868ca77 first Duke of 3b8bf44399 Locke.”4737cf329d76f1ff

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Lilliana gave a brief 3183f05b7b explanation of each Duke 55f6f8ebc9 in order, then stopped 305b522315 in front of the c0fb3051ca last portrait.a131d4eada09f20e

I had been following her 2f927b81f7 without much thought, but when dcb011e389 I saw it, my expression e898395333 froze.f11d994a3ca7bd06

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The face in the portrait 97c2c04e1e was one I recognized.a511cade113fc2d3

‘This… is Tristan.’25ea7dd6ba7f815e

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I was captivated, unable to 2b5e3ab552 take my eyes off his 26d3a5e913 face in the painting.ef5cce17411b628b

It was a b89d223890 face I hadn’t 4ab94c33f7 been able to f157bc40c1 see clearly during 64a5a92ced our last encounter, 04d339a540 now vividly captured dceb51f5bb in the portrait.dc00d1958ffad943

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In it, Tristan 551d2e412b looked quite different 39c8c166d3 from how I 855d5fb2a9 remembered him as 435ddbaa12 a child.005b2682d6effdb3

While his strikingly handsome 0f4d9038e0 features were still the f55036bb63 same, his face had e7598577c5 matured, with more defined 760602fd7c lines.baee92d3f1cfe9c3

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I had imagined how he 1083193bd9 might look after growing up, d24ecc47d2 but he was even more 168b3d7551 impressive than I had expected.55d7bf3ead99c0e6

‘To think I’d see his face like this…’ff7e88baf0080177

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Feeling overwhelmed, I 2b79b914d6 bit my lip 968ee50d93 lightly.baf29c289901b0e3

As before, Liliana continued d0ea87f4c4 her explanation.9b00863efb163aec

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“This is the current Duke of Locke. It might sound 92a102a7b8 a bit boastful 3c4fd6cfc4 coming from me, 902c96e96e but I’m really 4e7fdf93ea proud of my efaf4f461a brother. He works tirelessly for the d3e821e410 family, day and night.”a01bfea1f35aab85

“Hmm, I see.”4d1f5e34dd3e898f

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Sensing that Lilliana 50a965fa9f was wrapping up 576433adc8 her explanation, I 7507024199 responded to her a53b06952a appropriately.ebccecb27b89a186

‘Now that we’ve seen all the portraits, will we finally head to the leaving room?’32ef7b2a6d002116

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However, my prediction was wrong. Lilliana continued talking about Tristan.007e92499a8cf8a1

“To be honest, my brother is much more handsome in person. Because of that, 2fe5687750 many noble ladies c032b16f4e have proposed to bb3a6c7541 him over the 25deff4f74 years.”3f1498db12d14815

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I had already 87d4438eec heard those rumors.a7655e3bf93d63a9

‘Well, that’s not surprising. Tristan is quite the catch. But now that 278b082aa9 I think about a47f355d2b it, I’ve never a6e0a59c0a heard of him 77ab6536b2 accepting any proposals.’146ee7a0ec7311d6

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Intrigued, I found myself paying e1740e78ae closer attention to Liliana’s words.07f3b666440960a5

“But do you know what, Mother? My brother turned them all 2ef609a3ce down. Not only that, but he’s 43d97ab0fe never even had a proper e64a6bc0e8 romantic relationship. These days, it’s rare to a9c6e167ff find a man with such 1a49a39cc1 a clean past!”2ce1fc6d93c352f3

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“I see.”18c60b36f41b5093

“He’s also very well-read and knowledgeable. He rarely gets cd242b0b5a angry, thanks to bd1ecc90d2 his calm nature, e3dd115aed and he’s incredibly 82573125aa responsible. You can’t forget the 65008fdc17 achievements he made in 682bccd610 the recent war either. I learn so 9856aea4d0 much from him 2a0235a8b7 every day.”bd4e45bd6cd27770

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As I listened quietly to 24935eaf27 Liliana, I began to feel d88712bf59 a sense of unease.6d5c762aadc10239

‘Why am I suddenly listening to Tristan’s praises?’a7db848d2fba8889

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Unlike her earlier e44e0d864c explanation about the ee70f04024 previous heads of 2c95ce4a47 the family, Lilliana 72d1de1ff9 seemed much more 62a01010ab enthusiastic now. It didn’t feel like she 8be491e700 was just bragging about her 102e504f53 brother; it seemed like there 48f357041f was a purpose behind her 768f9479ee words.df7615349d3f1845

‘Am I imagining this?’8798fd793948032a

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Liliana’s tone reminded me of 870958dbca a home shopping presenter, as 70afc11947 if she was trying to 8030e78efb sell me something.8fe5660fdf545c1b

“Handsome, smart, kind, and with his head firmly on his shoulders! Isn’t he just the 0a91f571d0 perfect husband?”1a48825022f4946f

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Lilliana’s eyes sparkled 62fc929930 as she continued c2740f1efd to praise Tristan, 61c864c5ea eagerly waiting for 54c79d8bcb me to agree 6baa010623 with her.12ea8008213d3d9b

It was hard f4c88f8e5a to grasp why d45cf4a936 she wanted me ddea07033d to agree with a2ba07d8ae such a question. Still, feeling the pressure of 98acc822a0 her hopeful gaze, I nodded 27d00953cd reluctantly.501b07f45bd90295

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“Hmm, yes, I suppose so.”9c1b2416d7adae8c

At my words, a51366eeab Lilliana beamed with 50c77b6da9 satisfaction, as if c30ae15e4a she had accomplished 8d78a25cc3 something difficult.77d7e89e37dfbcd1

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“I’m so glad you think so, too, Mother! Oh, look at the time! Shall we move to the 1c19fdaaf8 leaving room now?”1a38b2e79390a5d9

“Let’s.”ec3611e0715cd4f2

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Normally, I would have spoken 00a2681297 more sharply, telling her to 259c5e2ad9 do as she pleased, but af6af7ff12 this time, I hurriedly nodded.593ad8814b97018c

I wanted to b0c44f11ab get out of db02aa6274 this space as c140a5ba1a quickly as possible.9188cda2a8d8deba

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***9a3d5689674e397d

The leaving room wasn’t far 39051aa9aa from where we were. It only took two 270ae466ce minutes to reach it.b1970cad555c2066

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‘Phew…’e0e5325525055704

Standing in front af13bba231 of the door, 3c06ac3b5c I let out d9abf9d8bf a sigh of a6bf01a58a relief.f67269a3366de3b2

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‘I’m so glad we didn’t run into Tristan on the way here.’fa51f09638a44f72

I had been avoiding him cbc86c9092 for a while, but now, 756af0a52b the thought of seeing his e198ae657e face terrified me even more. If we did meet, all edf6daac0d the praises Liliana had showered f9157f2aac on him would come flooding 4b4727a4b1 back, likely giving me a 32348701f2 headache.770a5ac6a3fd2d19

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‘Alright, time to focus. My business is e11fa7dfd4 at stake here.’8b2435b3937569ba

My goal today 6cefe525f0 was to secure 1a385af5b0 a contract with c1ad080054 the Locke family. I planned to ask them b59b7a1113 to import raw materials from 63630afc4a the East for my perfume 56e08031c4 business.e51f1dd7163f0666

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‘Since I came through Lilliana’s introduction, they’ll probably want to do business with me. But I can’t b29755792b take that for f277a56a6d granted.’14e2094792cc26b0

Business deals can only happen 59a1f163bf when there’s mutual benefit, so 9b7c27116b I had to present my 3cb6f73968 proposal in a way that f652d73292 clearly showed what they stood d7b08f3f91 to gain.0c0e99e5555cf4fb

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Rehearsing my prepared lines in c652e4861f my head, I opened the 6ca5305dfa door to the leaving room.31017b5b39dc1cb4

But all that preparation evaporated 602205517c in an instant.15e75a0adbf7612d

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A stunning figure, 7e085724c5 with an appearance bdd3ed04d4 that would make 0f4cc4920e anyone gasp in 065709dbe2 awe, stood before 22568afd90 me. His deep blue e2d499fad6 eyes, ones I 436f9eeec7 had seen countless 913f596e0e times in my 6008d1421d dreams, locked onto ce44c492b8 mine.e8f14bd1c9bb7dc9

The person standing there was c9cded5ac0 none other than Tristan Locke.97dfa364fc169802

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“We meet again, Lady Winder.”727438b3a4a3d13a

The man I absolutely 36717c7340 didn’t want to see 7edd0cbf12 greeted me with a 2f388e2ee0 smile.38870462be710a77

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The moment I 0b63f30cc7 saw him, my ffc110d715 entire body froze.db5d58f9b7a8a05f

‘Why… why is he here?’fff835819f48da06

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I was supposed to meet 6ecebaf51c with an expert on imports 10df25f843 today, not Tristan.fd35fa5529d3a896

Unable to hide 01938abc58 my shock, I 94e3d5c021 glanced at Lilliana, c75adc8d9e who scratched her fb316dd737 cheek with an a21516ae69 awkward smile.4b387143e9799155

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“I thought it would be more helpful for your business if I brought the highest authority in the family!”05cf3f4e0ed6cfec

Isn’t that great?168abdb19e6bf51e

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She didn’t say it out 303f64f4ac loud, but her expression clearly 235e37e77b conveyed the sentiment.15bcb9433bd24a36

Normally, I would have dc016cff0c found her expression endearing 08c058bea4 and responded warmly, but 8176285e23 today, I couldn’t. Not after seeing f75ae39d76 Tristan in front 196d59dc25 of me. I could barely form 99ee1630c1 any words.5dd26dea0782137e

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I had tried not 1945536950 to show it, but 9188924c94 there was a reason 299dfbc087 I had been avoiding b2dd35239d meeting Tristan for so fe404c8f4a long.ae26b7b660b2bedf

It was because I e81f4d9a07 feared how he might 7eed2bb702 react if we did 772094e604 cross paths.1108d743b4e0b595

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Seven years ago, 359d18458b I had trampled 860f568d9f on Tristan’s heart.ce837dca4083d3c2

• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Esraa• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •8a7019b5a8834134

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If you want to support 5f6bee31f1 the translation and the translator, 1c430ec517 you can buy a coffee~b1e07928084c1821